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1Formulas and methods
Integrals
Power rule
∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1) + C
Definite integral
∫ab f dx = F(b) − F(a)
Common integrals
∫eˣ dx = eˣ, ∫1/x dx = ln|x|, ∫sin x dx = −cos x
Area between curves
∫ab (f − g) dx
Method
Rewrite the integrand as a sum of simple terms where possible.
Apply the power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1), and standard integrals for ex, 1/x, sin and cos.
Use substitution when you see a function and its derivative together.
For a definite integral, evaluate F(b) − F(a).
Sequences & series
Arithmetic sequence
aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d, Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2
Geometric sequence
aₙ = a₁rⁿ⁻¹, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r)
Infinite geometric series
S = a₁/(1 − r), |r| < 1
p-series
Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1
Ratio test
L = lim |ak+1/ak|: L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges
Radius of convergence
R = lim |ck/ck+1|
Taylor polynomial
Pₙ(x) = Σ f⁽ᵏ⁾(a)(x − a)ᵏ/k!
Maclaurin series
eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + …
Lagrange error bound
|Rₙ| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!
Method
Identify the type: arithmetic (constant difference), geometric (constant ratio), a standard series, a power series or a Taylor polynomial.
For sums use Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r), or S = a₁/(1 − r) when |r| < 1, with a₁ the first term of the sum.
For convergence: n-th term test first, then compare with Σ1/kᵖ or a geometric series, and use the ratio or root test for factorials and k-th powers.
For Taylor polynomials list f(a), f′(a), f″(a), …, divide the k-th derivative by k!, and bound the error with M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!.
Multivariable calculus
Partial derivatives
fx = ∂f/∂x (y constant), fxy = fyx
Gradient
∇f = (fx, fy), largest slope |∇f|
Directional derivative
Duf = ∇f·u, u = v/|v|
Tangent plane
z = f(a, b) + fx(x − a) + fy(y − b)
Chain rule
dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt
Second-derivative test
D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0, fxx > 0 minimum; D > 0, fxx < 0 maximum; D < 0 saddle
Double integral
∬R f dA = ∫ab∫g(x)h(x) f dy dx
Polar coordinates
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, dA = r dr dθ
Method
For a partial derivative, treat the other variable as a constant and use the one-variable rules.
For gradient questions compute ∇f = (fx, fy) at the point; use |∇f| for the steepest slope and ∇f·u with a unit vector u for a directional derivative.
For extrema solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together, then classify every point with D = fxx·fyy − fxy².
For a double integral sketch the region, choose the order (or polar coordinates for discs) so the inner limits are the bounding curves, and integrate inside first.
Differential equations
Exponential growth/decay
dy/dt = ky → y = y0ekt
Half-life
k = ln 2 / t½
Newton's law of cooling
T(t) = Ta + (T0 − Ta)e−kt
Integrating factor
y′ + p(x)y = q(x): μ = e∫p dx, (μy)′ = μq
Mixing tank
dm/dt = r·c − (r/V)·m
2Practice problems
1.IntegralsMedium
Evaluate I = ∫01 2x·(x² + 1)2 dx.
f(x) = 2x·(x² + 1)2[0, 1]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = 2x2 and y = 3x.
y = 2x2y = 3x
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
The power series Σk=1∞ (x − 1)ᵏ/(k²·3ᵏ) converges on an interval around x₀ = 1. Find the right end x of that interval.
Σ (x − 1)ᵏ/(k²·3ᵏ)x₀ = 1
x =
4.Sequences & seriesHard
Use the Maclaurin polynomial of degree 4 of f(x) = cos(2x) to approximate f(1). Give P₄(1).
f(x) = cos(2x)n = 4x = 1
P₄(1) =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
For f(x, y) = −3xy³ − 5x² + y³ − 2xy, find the maximum rate of change of f at the point (2, 2), that is |∇f|.
f(x, y) = −3xy³ − 5x² + y³ − 2xyP = (2, 2)
|∇f| =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xy has a critical point at (1, 1). Compute the discriminant D = fxxfyy − fxy² there.
f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xyP = (1, 1)
D =
7.Differential equationsMedium
A forged steel part at 420 °C is left to cool in a workshop at 27 °C. After 16 min its temperature is 312 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). Find the constant k in min⁻¹.
T0 = 420 °CTa = 27 °CT(16) = 312 °C
k = min⁻¹
8.Differential equationsHard
Solve y′ + 3y = 7e−0.5t with y(0) = 5. Find y(2).
y′ + 3y = 7e−0.5ty(0) = 5
y(2) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 2.333
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Substitution
u = x² + 1, du = 2x dx
I = ∫12 u2 du
Integrate and evaluate
I = [u3/3]12 = (8 − 1)/3 = 2.333
Answer
I = 2.333
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 1.125
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Intersection points
2x2 = 3x → x = 0, x = 1.5
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [1.5x2 − 0.6667x3]01.5 = 1.125
Answer
A = 1.125
3.Sequences & series
Answer: x = 4
Convergence: if the terms do not tend to 0 the series diverges (n-th term test). Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1, and Σrᵏ only for |r| < 1. Compare a series with one of these when its terms behave like them for large k. Ratio test: L = lim |ak+1/ak|; root test: L = lim |ak|1/k. L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges, L = 1 decides nothing. A power series Σck(x − x₀)ᵏ converges for |x − x₀| < R with R = lim |ck/ck+1|; an alternating series with terms decreasing to 0 converges.
Coefficients
ck/ck+1 = 3·((k + 1)/k)² → 3
Radius
R = 3
Interval
−2 < x < 4
x = 4
Answer
x = 4
The ratio test says nothing at the two end points; they have to be checked separately.
4.Sequences & series
Answer: P₄(1) = −0.3333
Taylor polynomials: near x = a a smooth function is approximated by Pₙ(x) = f(a) + f′(a)(x − a) + f″(a)(x − a)²/2! + … + f⁽ⁿ⁾(a)(x − a)ⁿ/n!; for a = 0 this is the Maclaurin polynomial. Standard series: eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + x⁵/5! − …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + x⁴/4! − …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + x³/3 − …, 1/(1 − x) = Σxᵏ. Lagrange error bound: |f(x) − Pₙ(x)| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!, where M is the largest value of |f⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾| between a and x.
Maclaurin polynomial
P₄(x) = 1 − 2x² + 0.6667x⁴
Substitute
P₄(1) = 1 − 2 + 0.666667 = −0.3333
Answer
P₄(1) = −0.3333
The exact value is f(1) = −0.416147; the error −0.0828135 shrinks when you take more terms or a point closer to 0.
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: |∇f| = 80
Gradient: ∇f = (fx, fy) points in the direction of steepest ascent, and |∇f| is the largest rate of change. The directional derivative along a direction v is Duf = ∇f·u with the unit vector u = v/|v|. The tangent plane at (a, b) is z = f(a, b) + fx(a, b)(x − a) + fy(a, b)(y − b); it gives the linear approximation of f near that point. Chain rule: dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt.
Partial derivatives
fx = −3y³ − 10x − 2y → fx(2, 2) = −48
fy = −9xy² + 3y² − 2x → fy(2, 2) = −64
Length of the gradient
|∇f| = √((−48)² + (−64)²) = 80
Answer
|∇f| = 80
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: D = 128
Critical points and double integrals: a critical point has fx = fy = 0. Second-derivative test with D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0 and fxx > 0 is a local minimum, D > 0 and fxx < 0 a local maximum, D < 0 a saddle point, and D = 0 decides nothing. For a double integral over a general region, let the inner limits be the curves that bound the region; for discs and sectors use polar coordinates, x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ and dA = r dr dθ (do not forget the factor r).
Second derivatives
fxx = 12, fyy = 12, fxy = −4
Discriminant
D = 12·12 − (−4)² = 128
→ local minimum
Answer
D = 128
7.Differential equations
Answer: k = 0.02008 min⁻¹
First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.
Ratio of temperature differences
e−16k = 285/393
Solve for k
k = ln(393/285)/16 = 0.02008 min⁻¹
Answer
k = 0.02008 min⁻¹
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(2) = 1.036
First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.